Moroccan producers and exporters welcome the lifting of the ban on exports of potatoes and onions to Africa.
The Moroccan government recently lifted the ban on exports of potatoes and onions to Africa, a measure that had been introduced in response to soaring prices on the domestic market. This decision marks a significant turning point for Moroccan producers and exporters, who had seen their activities severely restricted.
The Moroccan authorities have introduced strict quotas to regulate these exports.
According to the Moroccan Association of Producers and Exporters to Africa and Abroad, an overall quota of 1,500 tonnes has been set for the country as a whole. This quota is divided equally between three main regions: Casablanca-Settat, Meknes-Tafilalet and Souss-Massa, with each region authorised to export up to 500 tonnes.
Despite this reopening of the markets, the association expressed its dissatisfaction with these new measures.
In a press statement, the association stressed that the rise in prices of potatoes and onions on the domestic market was not due to exports, but rather to internal brokering and speculation. The association also affirmed the abundance of current production, pointing out that even last year’s stocks of onions had not yet been disposed of.
The association called for a more participatory approach to decision-making, criticising the unilateral nature of the measures imposed by the authorities. It stressed the need for close collaboration between producers, exporters and the authorities to ensure balanced management of resources and markets.
The decision to lift the ban comes after mounting pressure from farmers, who have seen their incomes fall as a result of export restrictions. The Moroccan authorities had promised to reconsider the ban, recognising the negative economic impact on local producers.
The situation on the domestic market remains tense, with food prices continuing to fluctuate. The Moroccan authorities face a major challenge: balancing the needs of the domestic market with export opportunities, while avoiding speculative practices that harm consumers.
In the long term, Moroccan producers and exporters hope that this reopening of exports will stabilise farmers’ incomes and strengthen Morocco’s position on African markets.
However, they are calling for increased vigilance to avoid the same problems recurring in the future.
MN/sf/ac/fss/GIK/APA